Book Description

Most genuine lovers of New Mexico stubbornly perceive the state through a set of rose-colored glasses. They see the land and its indigenous people without inevitable modernization and filter out the invasion of Siberian (Chinese) elms and other non-native vegetation. They look beyond the splattering of manufactured homes and accompanying litter. Purposely, true lovers of New Mexico highly romanticize their chosen mecca that even today still dishes them out slices of the simple ways of bygone life.

Fortunately, for many of them, there exists a wealth of old, quality photographs that manage to portray such nostalgic versions of New Mexico in past real-life situations. Forever New Mexico: Heartfelt Images of the Land of Enchantment presents scores of such images that were mostly taken during the Depression era before post-World War II forever altered the New Mexican lifestyle that remained relatively unchanged for centuries.

Forever New Mexico draws upon a treasure trove of photographs from the Farm Security Administration archival files of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Photo Archives unit of the Museum of New Mexico, the archival files of New Mexico Magazine and the state Tourism Department historical collection at the New Mexico State Records and Archives Center. ... Read more

Book Description

Since Magnum was founded in 1947, its members have been on hand to bear witness on the front line of world history. From Robert Capa's stark photograph of a Loyalist soldier being shot in the head during the Spanish Civil War to Eve Arnold's astonishingly intimate portraits of well-known faces - from Joan Crawford to Malcolm X - Magnum has changed how we perceive our political leaders, social crises, and the communities next door.

Magnum's photographers are some of the most talented, brave, and resourceful in the world: the founders, Robert Capa, David Seymour, George Rodger, and Henri Cartier-Bresson; and recruits, including Eve Arnold, Bruce Davidson, Mary Ellen Mark, Susan Meiselas, Inge Morath, James Nachtwey, Eugene Richards, and Sebastiao Salgado. Magnum follows them on assignment, facing bodyguards and visa troubles and taking to the risk-filled trenches of several wars for the perfect shot. Full of wonderful stories and heroic feats, Magnum is an essential volume for anyone interested in photography or photojournalism. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonderful book
Russell Miller has written a wonderful book, both funny and sad. It depicts the times of the most creative photographers of the 20th century. I have recommended this book to my camera club and anyone who is interested in photography.

Heroes, made real and understandable
Russell Miller outlines the history of the world's greatest photo agency from its founding shortly after World War II until its advancement into the 90's. He includes personal stories about many of the photographers. The book also charts a course between many of the conflicting visions held by the members for the purpose of the agency. As you read the book, you have to remind yourself that Magnum is a "cooperative," because rarely do the members show this spirit. At its start, Cartier-Bresson wanted pictures with artistic vision. Capa wanted hard core reportage. In later years, Martin Parr's overtly critical portrayals of his subjects tested the agency's humanistic mission. All along, the great photographers prove to be fantastically poor businessmen. Russell Miller's history of does a lot to humanize some of the gods of photojournalism. As someone who has spent several years in graduate school, I enjoyed hearing that not all of these people were perfect. It is genuinely funny to learn that Eugene Smith's seven year Pittsburgh project was actually only intended to be a two week assignment. What beginning photographer hasn't made the same kind of mistake, deciding that a story was worthy of far greater time than budgeted for by your teacher or editor? Miller's account of Smith probably goes so far as to provide a cautionary tale to aspiring photographers about the need to draw boundaries to your work life. This book would be a good addition to a college photography course. It covers its subject expansively, but it tells the story in a chronological narrative that keeps the reader turning pages quickly.

A wonderful book about the passion of art and photojournalis
This is a wonderful book about people who are passionate about their craft. Miller takes us on a journey into one of the worlds premier photo agencies, showing the reader its inner workings, along with the in-fighting. It is an in depth story of some of the worlds best photographers (past and present)and the agency that represents them. It is a wonderful read, detailing the hows and whys of some of the most enduring images in history. This book is highly reccommended to anyone intrested in photojournalism.

An honest, well detailed depiction of the agency
Given that I had worked at Magnum as well as for several of the members, I thought that the Miller's book fairly depcited the personalities and management of the agency. Alas the book does not delve into why the new members have difficulty in living off as an associate member, or even tries to look into these problems. The history of photography and the timing of Magnum's incorporation came together fortuitously during the acme of the profession. The days of magazines such as Look, Life, and the commercial business of still photography have disappeared with the advent of color TV and Internet. Maybe they should have looked into Web pages. This is not to belittle their brilliant work in the past (I still consider my days at Magnum as the most influential in my life and still have friends in the agency), but given the original format for membership within Magnum, they should reconsider other options. Maybe such treatment would be out of context of the book, although ! it would delve into the many problems of still photography in today's world. ... Read more

Book Description

In a remote area of Mali, West Africa, the people called Dogon survive today as they have for thousands of years: in mud-brick houses below the Bandiagara cliffs. In the sandy plains, they grow the millet and sorghum they need to live. This arresting photographic portrait allows us privileged access to their traditional way of life, remarkably maintained today even after extensive contact with Western civilization.

Stephenie Hollyman’s intimate pictures show a tightly knit, cooperative society engaging in daily activities and sacred rituals: planting and harvesting crops, creating crafts, and performing varied religious ceremonies, most notably the masked dances with which the Dogon celebrate the honored burial of their dead. Walter van Beek’s engaging narrative displays the authority and observant eye of an anthropologist who has long lived among the people he writes about. This astonishing volume will find a rapt audience among readers of Abrams’ acclaimed African Ceremonies and other popular books on vanishing African tribal customs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good pictures and very good texts
The book is very good. Make a jorney in one of the Africa most interesting tribe. You will enjoy it. Good for those who have never been among dogons and even for those who have been there. You will find a lot of interesting information. Some pictures are not excellent but anyway I would recommend this book. It is very deep. ... Read more

Book Description

In the early 1950s the great anthropological photographer John Collier Jr. made nearly 1,000 photographs documenting Navajo life in Fruitland, New Mexico, near the Four Corners. Lost until recently in archives far from the Southwest, most of these photos have never before been published. The authors of this book have assembled a selection of Collier's Navajo photographs showing the changes in post-World War II reservation life.

This was the period when cash-crop agriculture and wage work began to supplant the traditional pastoral life centered on raising sheep and using the wool for weaving. Ironically, the photographer was the son of the Indian commissioner who instigated stock reduction on the Navajo Reservation in 1934. Nearly three-quarters of a century later, the senior Collier is still hated by Navajos, and it is a tribute to the younger Collier's personality as well as his skill that he was able to take some of the most intimate pictures ever made of the Navajo people. The Collier photos collected here show people working, cooking, weaving, eating, washing their hair, and engaging in other activities of daily life. The collection also includes handsome portraits, some formal, some casual.

The essays by Benally and Doty set Collier's work in the contexts of Navajo tradition and history as well as provide background on the Fruitland project and Collier's role in it. Dale Mudge's account of Navajo farming practices combines with Collier's photos to present an outstanding summary of traditional Diné agriculture. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

excellent photojournalist book
an excellent photojournalist book with a very good edit

The absolute best of photojournalism
Let me start this review by saying that I am *not* a photojournalist. I am an art photographer, and unlike these people at Reuter, I take weeks or months to perfect a print when they need only hours (although I am limited my darkroom availability at my school). So, I was judging this book not as a photojournalist book, but as a serious art photography book, since that is what I know.

That being said, this is an EXCELLENT art phorography book. I picked up this book to look at in Borders after being fascinated by the cover photography, which is more of an art photograph than anything. It was absolutely beautiful, with human faces blocked by simle white masks, and only black in the abckround. I didn't know this was a photojournalist book, I thought it was art photography. So, being so in love with the cover, I sat down and looked through every single photograph. About 1/5 of the book is sports photography, and I am not at all into sports, so I didn't much like those sections, but the rest more than makes up for it.

All of these photographs are greatly crafted and precise technically. There are beautiful ones like the one on the front, hillarious ones, ones that look unbelievable (I'm thinking of one with a skelton model about 50 feet high raised out of the water in a lake looking at a huge "book of life" that's actually an opera stage. I thought it was a digital piece of art at first!). The best, and most moving photographs in this book however are the war photographs. These are very, very hard to look at, but they show you what war is really like, the things you don't see in the regular news media. You see bodies burned so taht the yellow fat and muscles show. You see a body hunched over a railing with almost all of his back blown off and scattered about him, where you can see straight into the empty cavity of his back. You see a man shotting another man in a gutter. These are not fun to look at, but tehy are important, give such impact that the breath is knocked out of you several times.

This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is one of the best photography books I have seen. And to pay $[money]for a 200 page hardback is a real deal. Buy this book, if you can stomach teh ahrsh war photographs you won't regret it! And even if you can't, there's plenty of other, easy to view, excellent photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the leading photographers of our age journeys to Christian communities around the world and, in a stunning book that blends his thoughtful observations with 173 dramatic black-and-white images, produces a magnificent photographic testimony to what it means to be a Christian at the dawn of the third millennium.

Having left his native Iran prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which he covered with great fascination and apprehension, Abbas now devotes much of his energies to probing explorations of religion, seeking to understand why and how religious passion grows. His travels around the world have produced several international bestsellers. This latest book focuses on Christian communities in such diverse places as Jerusalem, Ulster, Lourdes, Mexico, Mali, Cuba, Russia, and the United States, as he looks at modern Christianity from the perspectives of politics, rituals, spirituality, and civilization.

ABBAS is an acclaimed photographer, best-selling author, and member of the Magnum Agency in Paris. He has exhibited his work in museums and galleries in Teheran, London, and Paris, where he now lives.

173 black-and-white photographs, 93/4 x 121/2" ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a definitive look at christianity
abbas, one of the world's best photographers, goes to the heart of christianity as it is practiced all over the world. there is nothing lacking in this book, nothing he doesn't reveal about his subjects. abbas meets this material half-way, and for that reason some religious fanatics will not like the book. he doesn't just show us what christianity looks like objectively, he puts his personal imprint on every photo. this combination of personal art and documentation is what makes this book better than any book of its kind regarding christianity. so thank you to abbas for tackling a touchy and difficult subject, one that hasn't up to this point been explored by a top photographer.

AN UNFINISHED PROJECT...
Some photos are memorable and give honour to the talented photographer but there does not seem to be any integrity at all, the book is nothing more than a collection of photographic notes taken in different lands. A number of images have nothing to do with christianity at all. The camera is often more excited about sects and cults. Very subjective views and written statements, too shallow for such a serious subject. A project like this should take a lifetime to complete...

A Sort of Christianity
There are some marvelous pictures in this book. The book is large and beautifully printed. It has the weight of talent , time and subject material that makes it a worthy item to have in one's photo collection. I would, however, make an important caveat for those who are looking for a faithful depiction of the faces of Christianity as it exists around the world. They will not find it in this book. It is more of an exploration of "Christianity", and the areas of politics, culture and spirituality that have grown up around it, oftentimes in a way that the author jarringly admits has little to do with actual Christian faith. This leaves the viewer wondering if the unusual or the extreme depicted are Christian or if they just happened to make for interesting pictures. That struck me as disingenous. Adding to the confusion were pictures of Jews, Muslims, Russian Communists, etc.. Personally, after viewing some of the sensational imagery of Santeria in Cuba (which Abbas himself in the book notes acknowledges is a "cult"), I had to wonder if the Christian faith as expressed around the world was being given true justice, which one would expect after five years. The peculiar introduction seems to indicate that a desire to "even the score" after his Islam project was a consideration at work. In the end, I see the book as a fascinating personal project in which a photographer was exploring his own ideas about a world religion, but in the end offered up confusing notions of the faith to match the confused notions of some he was photographing. On a purely visual level, however, it is stunning. ... Read more

Book Description

Market savvy, expert research, and first-rate resources combine to make this book the tutor that can take experienced photojournalists to new heights of success-while showing aspiring photojournalists how to begin their climb in a stimulating and rewarding field.This insider's look at how today's pros really sell their work details the powerful maneuvers they use. Step-by-step instructions tell how to establish a business, implement the latest research tactics, network with editors and other photo buyers, pitch to television producers, and expand business through lectures and teaching. Extensive sections on Internet marketing detail cutting-edge strategies for tapping into the lucrative photojournalism marketplace. ... Read more

Book Description

This lavishly illustrated guide through the Vatican captures the people, the treasures, and the inner workings of the center of the Roman Catholic Church.Bart McDowell takes readers through centuries of Vatican history, describing the days of the Roman Empire, the glorious years of the Renaissance, the power struggle between Church and State that endured from the late 7th century until 1929, and much more.Since the center of the Roman Catholic Church is also the world's smallest nation, McDowell explains religious matters, such as the process of canonization, and governmental operations of the Vatican-highlighted by a visit with Pope John Paul II as he attends to his many daily duties.

Photographer James L. Stanfield spent nearly a year inside the Vatican with unprecedented access to its museums, ceremonies, and people.His full-color photographs show art that few visitors to the Vatican have the chance to see-works of such masters as Michelangelo and Raphael-and provide private viewings of Pope John Paul II's quarters, the necropolis beneath St. Peter's Basilica, and world-renowned libraries.Through these beautiful and exclusive photographs and the revealing text that accompanies them, Inside the Vatican celebrates a small, dynamic community unique in the world.

Reviews (9)

Skimpy on the ART
If you can get this book used for under $10 dollars

AND...

You are interested in the whole workings of the Vatican National Geographic sytle, buy it it, is a great book from that perspective.

It is not an over $20 dollar art book because a large number of pages which could have been used for images are wasted on oversize text. Five pages of the books text could have fit on one page.

The photographs are great, but they are of everything including wasted full page close ups of guards. If you want a general book on the vatican this book delivers......but if you thought that "Inside the Vatican" meant a lot of art you might not see otherwise this is not the right book for the price.
It is not an Art book like one thinks of with Konemann books, there are some good photos and enough for a general book like this but it does not have enough art to warrant the price, then again I guess no one really said it was supposed to be art book.
I have written this review just as a warning for some people who might think that there is a lot of art here.....it is not an art book. This fact is kind of a shame because after 65% of the book is finished and it finally does get to the "Treasures section" the photographs are decent, however it makes you wonder why did we need a whole page close up of a guards face and only a quarter page on some of the art.
The Wonderful frescoes of the Vatican are very few and most are the usual 4 token shots of the Sistine chapel.
The wonderful Hall of Constantine isnt covered at all. I agree with all the other reviewers, if you are a National Geographic format fan, this is one of their best efforts.

But....The wrong pictures are too big, the right pictures are too small, the really wonderful pictures never made it into the book, andway, way, too much space is dedicated to oversize text.

I bought it used, do the same, it is not a new full price book,
there is enough for under $10 even if your main interest is art but you will not get as "Inside the Vatican" as you might with other books about the Vatican Art.

Good Pope pictures, Pope-Mobile pictures, and that sort of thing
and good "Quick read history".

Wonderful--Makes me Proud
I was proud to be a Catholic anyway, but gee the wonderful stories, history and people behind this book makes it a must own for Catholics!

Buy it!
Jim Stanfield is one of the most accomplished photographers to work forNational Geographic. I met Jim several years ago, and he's a fine gentlemanas well as an outstanding photographer. He won one of the topphotojournalism awards in the world, in 1986, based partly on this body ofwork as well as an essay on Isreal. Bob Gilka, who was Jim's boss atNational Geographic, told me he thought Jim was the most technicallyaccomplished photographer working for the magazine. When there was anespecially difficult job to do, it was given to him. And Jim's technicalexpertise shows through, but there's more here than technically superiorimages. These are stunningly gorgeous photographs in their own right. Butthey are more than that, they give you an insight into life at the Vaticanthat will never be repeated. Buy it. I can't wait for more books by JimStanfield to hit the shelves.

worth every penny
This book has stunning and well-done photos of the Vatican. The author had priviledged access to many areas that other photographers have not had.This book really shows you the history and beauty of the church's foundingplace.Well worth a read.

Beautiful Book
Because this book is a National Geographic book, it has beautiful pictures which capture the various aspects of the Vatican life.In addition to the wonderful photographs, the author gives valuable information about theVatican.The only thing that I could have wished for this book is to havemore detailed history of the Vatican.This book gives the reader a greatfoundation for the intriguing place called the Vatican State. ... Read more

Book Description

In November 2002, combat photographer Christopher Anderson had a chance encounter with a Holga, a plastic toy camera manufactured in China. Expecting it to be nothing more than a game, Anderson quickly found a kind of freedom with the plastic camera that differed greatly from his usual work as a war photographer.

"My work requires a certain intellectual engagement in trying to visually communicate information both literal and emotional. But I found something very different with this camera. Because it’s a toy, I couldn't control it the way I normally would. I couldn't take pictures that were the result of an engaged thought process, because it was physically impossible with this camera," explains Anderson. Instead, he found himself reacting and taking pictures in a much more instinctive way. "The pictures that I was taking were free of meaning or message and were much more revealing about how I reacted to scenes that I encountered while going about my life," he adds.

Anderson used the plastic camera for a period of eight months, and his photographs were guided solely by emotion and intuition. The result is a series of images he likens to conversations overheard or half-remembered, but, nevertheless, all true. Anderson’s "toy photography" project is now captured in NONFICTION, one of the first book to be completely photographed with a Holga.

The softcover book, containing a collection of fifty-four images that are sometimes funny and sometimes serious, is housed in a colorful and stylish box that makes the perfect accessory for any coffee table. Anderson may not have set out to photograph anything in particular, but what he has done is offer glimpses of our world from a slightly different angle than the expected. ... Read more

Book Description

Divided Soul represents David Alan Harvey's twenty-year journey through the Spanish and Portuguese diaspora. In this selection of more than 100 colour photographs Harvey explores the exuberance and incongruities of Hispanic life and culture that hold for him an endless fascination. Since the 1970s Harvey has photographed in Spain, Portugal and throughout the New World, including Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, Brazil and Chile. A passionate and divided soul, where tradition and ritual are inherent in everyday life, is revealed in these photographs of pulsating carnivals in Trinidad, fervent religious ceremonies in Brazil, and intense Easter parades in Puerto Rico. Harvey minimizes the distance between himself and his subjects, producing images that capture the natural choreography of people within places and that resonate with magic. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Solid book, excellent photography, worth it.
I think among the many good street photographers shooting with color filmonly a few really succeded. David Harvey is one of the best. It is a nice book, although it could be nicer one with a bit more imaginative photo editing and much crisper design. Nevertheless this is is a good example of the an excellent resources for the photography students, particularly those interested in Spanish visual culture.

Irresistible!!!
This book is pure magic. Harvey has managed to capture the spirit of people's hearts and souls in a way that leaves you speechless... page after page of stunning images that say so much more than these 'people', this 'place'... to my mind, like the best in art and poetry, this book is conveying eternal truths - of beauty, freedom and passion - told through the 'everyday' moments of 'everyday' people, through the 'ballet' of the street.
This is a love-affair with Latin culture, over 30 years of work. If you're into photography, art, humanity, in vibrant full colour, Divided Soul has it all... personally, I found it irresistible!!!

Magnum Photographer David Alan Harvey Dazzles Viewers!
David Alan Harvey is a member of Magnum Photos and often shoots for the National Geographic. This collection of images is superb. Harvey does not rest on his laurels. This is color street photography at its best -- and not many photographers are good at it. The compositions are exciting and the colors are part of the composition. The images cover many Spanish-speaking countries over many years and show a love for life. The reproduction of the images is excellent -- much better than the reproduction of the images in his book on Cuba. The lighting he captures is just wonderful. This book speaks to the soul. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mined from the Associated Press archives, these 167 black and white photos are precious historical treasures, ranging from some of the most celebrated images of the century to rare relics not seen since World War II. They're arranged chronogically, with informatively evocative brief captions, a formal yet moving foreword by war hero/Senator/National WW II Memorial Chairman Bob Dole, and an action-packed, you-are-there introduction by death-defying war correspondent Walter Cronkite. Paging through the book almost serves as an impressionistic, quickie history of the conflict, glimpsed from burning airplanes, submarine periscopes, London Underground bomb shelters, rickety rope bridges, decapitated cathedrals, smoking ruins, and scenes of brutality and tenderness, calamity and tearful relief. The context helps rescue the most famous pictures from cliché: you get more from Joe Rosenthal's Pulitzer-winning shot of six Marines hoisting the flag atop Iwo Jima by seeing his pix of the battle leading up to it and by reading that half of those six died without ever seeing the photo. If it is not perverse or disrespectful to say so, many of the images are beautiful as art, in the compositional style of Life Magazine (where some appeared). Nurses perched in midair surreally attempt to clean a bombed hospital room whose walls have vanished. British soldiers march in a line past a line of tall white pillars, Roman ruins that echo their shapes. Churchill appears to levitate a RAF fighter by sheer force of will. Even the grisly pictures of victims manage to respect the dead by means of esthetic and journalistic seriousness. Many pictures capture moments of drama so stunning you can't believe the photographer survived—and many didn't. The photo reproductions aren't glossy, but they're gritty, and that's appropriate. They were news. They still are. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Book Description

Fresh out of college and passionate about photography, Deborah Copaken Kogan moved to Paris in 1988 and began knocking on photo agency doors, begging to be given a photojournalism assignment. Within weeks she was on the back of a truck in Afghanistan, the only woman—and the only journalist—in a convoy of mujahideen, the rebel “freedom fighters” at the time. She had traveled there with a handsome but dangerously unpredictable Frenchman, and the interwoven stories of their relationship and the assignment set the pace for Shutterbabe’s six chapters, each covering a different corner of the globe, each linked to a man in Kogan’s life at the time.

From Zimbabwe to Romania, from Russia to Haiti, Kogan takes her readers on a heartbreaking yet surprisingly hilarious journey through a mine-strewn decade, seamlessly blending her personal battles—sexism, battery, life-threatening danger—with the historical ones—wars, revolution, unfathomable suffering—it was her job to record.
... Read more

Reviews (70)

wonderful, wonderful, wonderful
I bought this book on Friday evening and was done reading it by Sunday evening. I could not put it down. I like the book the most because of the two subjects: travel and photography. Deborah Copaken Kogan can be admired for picking up and moving to another country and then again for traveling around the world to do exactly what she set out to do, take pictures. Her writing style transitions from one time in her life to another without losing the reader. She explains the photojournalist profession from a womens point of view, it's frustrations and pitfalls. She explains who she is through her line of work and the love affairs that she has had with men. I thought the climax of the story was in Romania; she explains this part of her story in such detail that I had to take a short brake from the book. She brings her story to an even higher scarier peak in Moscow. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and photography.

A modern-day Annie Oakley trading gun for camera
As a child I loved the story of a gun-slinging Annie Oakley simply because it was the tale of an adventurous female spirit who excelled at a sport little girls rarely took interest in if they were even allowed access to it in the first place. For me, Deborah Copaken Kogan was Annie Oakley all over again in that she proved herself adept not only at shooting a camera, but at doing it in what is typically a male-dominated field--photojournalism. While at first I found myself cringing at what I perceived as a never-ending aggrandisement of her sexual exploits, I came to realize how guilty I was of the double standard so prevalent in our society that allows men greater sexual freedom than women. By the end of the book, I felt like giving her a high-five for being so brutally honest about every aspect of her life at that time. One of my first jobs out of college years ago was as a copy girl or "twigger" at National Geographic which put me in the vicinity of many a world-class photographer, most of them men and many of them exactly as she describes. While her experience as a photojournalist was brief it was action-packed, and I think she captures beautifully her experience and presents it in a way that makes putting her book down (in either regard) quite difficult. When my two daughters are old enough, I'll put on Kogan's book on their shelf alongside many other classic tales about strong women.

Shutterbabe!
I just loved SHUTTERBABE. It was flashy, funny, candid, deeply emotional, laugh-out-loud hilarious, intense, telling, and an awful lot of fun. Deborah Copaken has an excellent eye for telling detail and a terrific turn of phrase: whether noting that the growth of a public waste pile in the mountains of Afghanistan was "my only measure of time, really" or characterizing the bustle of a pan-national transient hotel as "curried commotion" or closing the door on three lovelorn suitors in a single deftly decisive paragraph (p 213), she puts her heart on her sleeve and the pedal to the metal with bright, brash panache. Just a terrific read. (My only complaint is the afterword; her few thoughts about the events of 9/11, however irresistable and well-intentioned they must have seemed, are not up to the task and outside the rush of the ShutterBabe experience.)

Our book club agreed....
general concensus was that we didn't care for it. "Shutterbabe" was a bit whiny - she was offered an incredible opportunity at a young age, obviously she grew up in a family with money, and never seemed to show the appreciation for what was given her, based on the choices she made. Some parts were funny - but we do wonder what her husband and children will think of down the road when they read her exploits with other men.

a great read!
I ripped through this book quickly, unable to put it down. the writing style was cynical, quick witted, and a touch raw.

adolescent girls should read this not only to learn the battles that other women have fought for their individuality, but also because the author points out how her personal battle was waged on the hand of a few bad decisions and what the price can be for making such decisions. ... Read more

Book Description

Laura Wexler presents an incisive analysis of how the first American female photojournalists contributed to a "domestic vision" that reinforced the imperialism and racism of turn-of-the-century America. These women photographers, white and middle class, constructed images of war disguised as peace through a mechanism Wexler calls the "averted eye," which had its origins in the private domain of family photography.

Wexler examines the work of Frances Benjamin Johnston, Gertrude Käsebier, Alice Austen, the Gerhard sisters, and Jessie Tarbox Beals. The book includes more than 150 photographs taken between 1898 and 1904, such as photos Johnston took aboard Admiral Dewey's flagship as it returned home from conquering Manila, Austen's photos of immigrants at Ellis Island, and Beals's images of the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904.

In a groundbreaking approach to the study of photography, Wexler raises up these images as "texts" to be analyzed alongside other texts of the period for what they say about the discourses of power. Tender Violence is an important contribution not only to the fields of history of photography and gender studies but also to our growing understanding of U.S. imperialism during this period. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Power and art are not separate
Wexler writes clearly, skillfully interspersing history, sociology, and photography to argue that domesticity was some CREATED, not just "always there" in the US. Wexler especially emphasized the role of photography in supporting a discourse of white women's purity and black slave women's (or newly freed black women's) down-to-earth, animal nature. An excellent book for all students of art, social science, or history, this text can be used for undergraduates or graduate students. ... Read more

Book Description

All over the world, women in developing economies improve the lives of their families by creating and selling exquisite, indigenous crafts. The Ndebele beaders of South Africa, the weavers of Guatemala, the flower painters of Poland, the dollmakers of Turkey, the mirror embroiderers of India, the batik artists of Indonesia contribute to the future of their cultures. In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World is a beautifully photographed documentary of ninety women in twelve countries on four continents, revealing their diverse lives and surprisingly universal aspirations. Often driven by the harsh realities of poverty, little education, and even a lack of basic health care, female artisans are motivated by the desire to provide for their children: to dress them properly, to feed them well, and, most of all, to educate them. The need for social contact and a sense of community brings craftswomen together into small groups, which in turn gives rise to new micro-enterprises in developing countries. Many political and social organizations, including the United Nations, provide guidance and economic support, most often in the form of very small, short-term loans; thus cooperatives are created that strengthen and enrich their cultural heritage as well as individual lives and fortunes. Authors Paola Gianturco and Toby Tuttle have spent five years photographing, interviewing, and writing about craftswomen for this amazing collection. The artisans' individual voices are featured throughout the book as the authors describe their encounters with the craftswomen; amusing, affecting journal entries relate the authors' own experiences and reflections. In Her Hands celebrates a different kind of women¹s movement sisters, grandmothers, and friends join together to create beautiful crafts that contribute to a better life for themselves, their families, and for future generations. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This book does make a difference!
The glorious color photos and stories have inspired me to meet the craftswomen.I took the book with me on assignment in Guatemala with women weavers and watched the delight and pride from the weavers as they enjoyed the pictures of women like themselves. Each story is a challenge to all of us to seek out these crafts and use them in our daily lives. The well written stories by Paola and the personal essays by Toby are inspirational. They captured the reality of life and the possibilities.I left my copy in Guatemala and just ordered two more as gifts.This is a beautiful book.

A wonderful holiday gift for all my female friends
In Her Hands: Craftswomen Changing the World is a gorgeous photojournalistic volume about women around the world who make indigenous crafts.The crafts, varied and wonderful as they are, are sold at market so that the women can have an income stream to improve their economic situation.Money earned this way is most often used to pay for children's education and improved nutrition.These are often women who live in abject poverty, many without the help of income-generating husbands, who are passionate about giving their children better lives.One admires their focus, their intelligence, and the joy with which they live their lives, as documented by the two author/photographers, Paola Gianturco and Toby Tuttle.This is a wonderful coffee-table sized book with glorious images for anyone who loves crafts, travel, photography and for anyone who thinks and cares about the lives of women around the world. Well-done!I've already bought three!

Truly Great Book!

Amazing photography and unique insight into far lands and distant peoples. "In Her Hands" takes you on a journey to the places you've always wanted to go and into the lives of the people you wish you'd meet when you travel. Women around the world, working to create art and improve their lives. No flashy get-rich-quick success stories, no explosive dot-com egos, but real people who truly earn their success, day by day. The book deals fairly and honestly with complex issues of traditional societies around the world, as women invest their own money in the education of their children and change their local economies.

Beautiful, color-rich images help tell the tale all along. Like photography from LIFE magazine or National Geo, the photos make stories of In Her Hands almost leap from the page.

I highly recommend this to anyone and will be buying many copies as gifts for the holidays! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

People of Kau
The best photography book I ever had. Wonderful book.

people of kau
I found this book in a library in the mid/late seventies. I was a poor surfer dude in those days and never bought books. It was the first time I just went out and forked out a huge dollop of cash for a book. I never have regretted it for one moment. Never!
As someone else in the reviews says, "Just get it!" Go on!

Nothing short of astounding
I found the photographs in this book nothing short of astounding. It may be because I'm a graphic artist. The art which the people of Kau live within is jarringly beautiful; indeed, their tatoos and face painting did not cover or mark the human canvases, but instead enhanced and brought out the very soul of them. My hair stood on end.

A brilliant window into history beyond time
I felt priveleged to join Leni, through her stunning photography, on a voyage to a place in time and history that may by now have already been changed forever. It is difficult to conceive of cultures that today are so unlike our own, yet give us glimpses into how our own forebearers may have lived out their lives.

Nice Pics........ No Words Can Discribe!
In this modern world, it's hard for us to see how the "wild people live. The People of Kau showed how the people tattooing, hunting, fighting, & dressing up etc. They're the really collectiable pics. Just Buy it...... ... Read more

Book Description

Following the success of The New York Times bestseller America 24/7, DK is publishing 50 books that showcase the best photographs from each state - all to be published on the same day. Each individual book includes 95% new photography and is a unique peronal expression of state pride. ... Read more

Book Description

In the months leading up to Operation Defensive Shield, Xeriqua Garfinkel was the only photographer permitted to travel with units of the Israeli army. Her objective was to put a human face on the young men and women who risk their lives daily defending the Jewish homeland. In this deeply affecting collection of photographs, culled from the thousands taken during her stay, we meet the new inductees and the seasoned veterans, the artillery men and the border patrol officers, the mechanics and the combat soldiers. The dramatic reproductions are enhanced by text explaining the origin, evolution, and current workings of the Israel Defense Forces. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Soldier's Life: Inside the Israeli Army
The book is excellent. The photographs are stunning. I think it really captured a unique point of view of this army that we don't ever see in the three minute sound bites on the news. I think it is refreshing to see a photo journalist focus on important issues in the world that are not depressing. It makes a thoughtful gift for any occassion. ... Read more

Book Description

Master photographers Londie Padelsky, Fred Hirschmann, Larry Angier, Sherman Hines, Carolyn Fox, Larry Turner, Jim Umhoefer, and Howard Leisner present 100 images of outhouses. A provocative quote of unique insight accompanies each photograph. The book celebrates this humble structure with outstanding imagery of exquisite scenic quality and reflections on the nature of man and his constructions. ... Read more

Book Description

Since 1978, French photographer Frédéric Brenner has been chronicling the Jewish Diaspora by producing visual social histories of Jewish communities. Diaspora is a photographic record of his 25-year search for the Jewish population in 40 countries over five continents. Volume I, 344 pages, is a collection of 262 of Brenner's more than 80,000 photographs, the most extensive and diverse visual record of Jewish life ever created. A four page color insert includes two full-color photographs. Volume II is 164 pages of evocative essays by leading intellectuals on the meaning and significance to each of them of 60 of Brenner's photographs, reproduced here in smaller format. Diaspora is a landmark project that captures the scope and dynamism of one of the world's oldest, most diverse communities, and challenges stereotypes held by Jews and non-Jews alike. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This is Awesome
I read about this book in Pop Photo Magazine (www.pophoto.com) and was very intrigued by it. I got the book and it is awesome! It's probably the most comprehensive photographic look at the Diaspora that I've ever seen. A great Hanukah present!

Magnificent Photographs Of A People United In Exile
French photographer Frederic Brenner has brilliantly documented Jewish life in the Diaspora with his magnificent photographs. He has spent the last twenty-five years traveling through over forty countries, on five continents, creating and compiling this collection of images of Jewish communities, faces and culture. Brenner has woven a thread, through the visual image, that shows a people united in their heritage.

This beautiful two volume set is presented in a heavy laminated slipcase. Volume I, PHOTOGRAPHS, contains 262 of Brenner's black and white photos, 2 two-page color photographs, and one map. There are images of a Jewish Harley-Davidson motorcycle club with members posed in front of a Miami Beach synagogue; Jewish workers and their children from Birobidzhan, the former Soviet Union's Jewish autonomous region; portraits of modern Jewish writers living in Austria and Germany; women who have lost their children to the secret police in Argentina; Marranos in Portugal who continue the tradition of celebrating the Passover secretly; Jewish men selling Christian souvenirs in Rome's St. Peter's Piazza; a spiritual gathering of Navahos and Jews in Arizona; Jewish barbers from Tajikistan and merchants from Calcutta. The only color photographs in the book show a yellow swatch of cloth printed with the Star of David that Jews were forced to wear under the Nazis. There is an entire room covered in the same cloth - a photograph commissioned for the Vienna State Opera that hung there as a stage curtain.

Volume II, VOICES, contains writings - essays and commentary from such modern intellectuals and authors as Carlos Fuentes, Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg, Georges Steiner, André Aciman, Jacques Derrida and the voices of the people photographed.

Frederic Brenner wrote, "The Jews I have photographed are all contemporary, but together they reflect a full spectrum of space and time . . . Diaspora: An experience of dispossession and discontinuity. . . . The photographs enable us to see and acknowledge the multiple threads from which we are woven, to listen to and acknowledge the multiple voices within us, even when paradoxical and discordant."

These massive albums represent a tremendous achievement. Brenner has given a gift to us all. These books deserve a place of honor in the home.
JANA

Excellent Gift To Us All!
This is a book remarkable for its depicting the so many facets of UNITY. Its stated and documented variety in unity is achieved by capturing the unity in variety of all self-described Jews. Yet, such generous conclusion soon becomes the premise of an inference, one cannot abstain from, about the unity of all humankind.

Great photos that span over several decades, continents, countries, and one people along a vast continuum. The subjects do a certain amount of posing as if in preparation for the moment the reader meets them all. And the reader has the option to meet them in any sequence OR summon all these geo-temporal instances in one place, at one time.

Great photos, consistent quality and presentation technique, good commentary in the second volume. Excellent gift to us all!

magnificent
I rarely enjoy a "coffee table book" but this is so much more. It is absolutely brilliant-- the many essays are brief but thoughtful and a wonderful companion for the photos which span the evolution of a 25 year career-- or rather-- vocation. Highly recommended. ... Read more